Morphological study of the lingula in adult human mandibles of Brazilians individuals and clinical implications.

Nilton Alves,Naira Figueiredo Deana

doi:10.1155/2015/873751

Abstract

Objectives. The purpose of this research was to study, in macerated adult human mandibles, the height of the lingula and provide morphometric data for its location considering aspects such as shape of the lingula, gender, and race. Material and Methods. 132 macerated mandibles of Brazilian adult individuals, both sexes, Amerindian and Caucasian, were used. The distances: from mandibular notch to lingula; from anterior margin of ramus of mandible to lingula; from posterior margin of ramus of mandible to lingula; from mandibular base to lingula, and the height of lingula were obtained. To perform these measurements we used a digital caliper. The variables such as gender and race were analyzed. Results. The mean values found for the height of lingula and its location were determined according to the gender, race, and the lingula shape. Conclusion. This research provides additional data on height of the lingula and morphometric data for its location considering aspects such as shape of the lingula, gender, and race, information that had not been reported in the literature to date. We emphasize that a careful study considering gender and ethnic group makes procedures involving the region of lingula safer.

Highlights

The mandibular foramen (MF) corresponds to the opening of mandibular canal through which it penetrates the inferior alveolar vascular-nervous bundle [1], which is situated inferiorly and posteriorly to the greatest prominence of the lingula [2]
Regarding the distance from mandibular base to lingula (MB-L), we have found that Caucasian males (CM) showed averages considerably higher than Amerindian males (AM), Amerindian females (AF), and Caucasian females (CF) in all types of lingula and CF showed the lowest values
Sekerci and Sisman [12] and Jansisyanont et al [13] claim that, in females, the distances are shorter than or nearly equal to those found in males; we observed in our study that the mean values for height, mandibular notch (MN)-L, P-L, and MB-L were lower in females and only the A-L distance was lower or equivalent to those found in males, confirming that male mandibles are generally larger than female mandibles [9]

Summary

Introduction

The mandibular foramen (MF) corresponds to the opening of mandibular canal through which it penetrates the inferior alveolar vascular-nervous bundle [1], which is situated inferiorly and posteriorly to the greatest prominence of the lingula [2]. The lingula medially limits the MF [1]; many authors consider this structure as an ideal anatomical landmark [3] to determine the position of the MF when performing certain surgical procedures, such as sagittal split ramus osteotomy (SSRO) technique [2]. In this procedure, the horizontal osteotomy should be made just above the lingula and extended posteriorly to it in order to make a safe split with less potential for nerve injury [4, 5]. Many authors have used the lingula as a landmark for the location of the MF; they have not considered important variables such as the shape of lingula, gender, and race

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion